The first time

[Ron Koval]

Don't you just get a little rush out of working on a piano for the first 
time?  Good news, bad news, a gem, a dog; the possibilities are open.  This 
one, like many start with the phone call.  I've tuned for the hospital 
before, but they called and left a message that they "had a donation" (oh, 
boy..) and could I come out and tune it and see if it is worth keeping. (At 
least they expect to pay me...)  They think all of the keys work. (no one 
tried them?)  I quote for an hour and 1/4 for the first trip.

So, the day finally arrives and I find the right floor and see the piano 
from down the hall.  School-type brown upright.... Baldwin, Everett, Yamaha? 
  Oh, it's a Baldwin.  Hmmm... (I'm pretty sure those wheels aren't supposed 
to be on the TOP of the piano, and unless there's a ghost playing, that key 
shouldn't be down now, and it might be handy to have a sharp glued onto that 
key.)  I meet the contact person, and point out the wheels, and offer to 
mount them if they'd like.  No?, well I find a new home for them inside on 
the bottom board.

Sit down and plingiiiiingiiiiingiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing.  Hmmm, could be the 
damper pedal's adjustmet could use a few turns.  Some poorly re-glued 
keytops sticking, popped off the low A# to replace the one missing in the 
middle, find the missplaced front rail felts, and off I go.  Ok, not too far 
from pitch.  Twice through, making sure everything works, and done. Play 
some tunes. (Now that I've finally been able to drive off all the talkers.) 
Pack up, leave the invoice, and go find the car.

I'm glad I don't see new ones everyday, but I like the challenge of the 
chase.  What's wrong, can I make it work, how good can I make it sound?  
Fun.


(Now I return you back to your program, still in progress)

Ron Koval
Chicagoland

_________________________________________________________________
Help STOP SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE*  
http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail